Tool handle



A. GARDEN TooL HANDLE Oct. 23, 1951 Filed June 2l, 1946 r J Q MEM Patented Oct. 23, 1951 UNITED4 STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to tool handles and is more particularly concerned with a telescopic handle for screw drivers and the like.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device of the character referred to which comprises a telescoping member` adapted to be used as a lever to facilitate rotation of the tool.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character referred to of simpler and more compact construction than prior devices.

With the foregoing and other objects and advantages in view the invention consists of the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed. In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device with the telescopic members in closed position.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device with members extended. g

Figure 3 is -a transverse section on line 3 3 of Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a, fragmentary side elevation of the upper end of the barrel, partly in section.

Like numerals, as used in the description and drawings, designate the same parts of construction.

I refers to the tubular barrel of the tool handle in the lower end of which is mounted, by left hand threads or other suitable means, a -screw i driver head II, or an ordinary chuck to receive tools of various kinds.

At the upper end the rim is slotted diametrically, as at I2, to seat the head I3' of the handle, as well as the blade hereinafter mentioned.

Contained in the barrel I0 is a reciprocable, cylindrical element I4, designedy to move freely up and down. 'I'his element has a centered, bifurcated boss I5 on the top side. On one side of the element is a socket I6 containing a helical spring I'I which impinges the barrel and serves as a friction device to retard movement of the tool handle extension member I8.

Member I8 is a blade of suitable length carrying the head I3' on top and perforated at its lower extremity to receive a pivot pin I9 which is contained transversely in the bifurcation of bos-s I5. When disposed in lateral position this blade is designed to seat in one of the slots I2.

At a suitable distance from the upper end of barrel II and interiorly thereof is a ring 20 which serves as a stop to limit upward -movement of the element I4.

The head I3 is provided on the underside with a cylindrical extension to fit in the barrel I0 and lugs 2| positioned on the perimeter and suitably dimensioned to engage the recesses I2 in the rim of barrel I0, thus providing a fixed hand grasp to rotate the tool when collapsed, as illustrated in Figure 2.

This device, when closed, can be used for ordinary purposes, but when it is desirable to obtain greater leverage the reciprocable member can be withdrawn and turned down at the hinge, as illustrated in Figure 2, thus serving as a lever. By this means, screws, nuts and other threaded items can be set securely after they are driven into place.

As different embodiments may be made of this inventive concept and modifications may be made, in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it will be understood that the matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative merely, and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim is:

1. A tool handle, comprising a tubular body open at one end, a member rotatably and slidably mounted in said body, a handle extension telescopically received in said body, means hingedly connecting one end of said extension to said member, a head fixed to the other end of said extension and closely fitting within and adapted to close said open end of said body when said extension is telescoped to a closed position, said extension and member being slidable to an extended position allowing said extension to be pivoted to Aextend4 radially of said body in the region of said open end, locking means on said body in the region of said open end and engageable with `said extension when the same is radially extended to lock said extension and said member against rotation relative to said body, and means 4on said head interlocking with said locking means when the head is moved to a closed position to lock said head against rotation relative to said body.

2. A tool handle, comprising a tubular body open at one end, a member rotatably and slidably mounted in said body, a handle extension telescopically received in said body, means hingedly connecting one end of said extension to said member, a head xed to the other end of said extension, closely fitting within and adapted to close said open yend of said body when said extension is telescoped to a closed position, said extension and member being slidable to an extended position allowing said extension to be pivoted to extend radially of said body in the region of said open end, said body being formed to provide a plurality of open-ended, and circumferentially-spaced slots at said open en'd, said exten- Y t a sion being seatable in one of said slots upon radial extension of the same to lock said extension and member against rotation relative to said body, and said head being formed with at least one lug seatable in one of said slots when -said head is moved to a closed position to lock said head against rotation relative to said body.

ALBERT CARDEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number 10 Number 4 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Baltzley Dec. 26, 1916 Rainey Feb. 19, 1924 Browning et a1. Sept. 6, 1927 Sudek, Jr Nov. 26, 1929 Magnano Dec. 5, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Oct. 3, 1927 Great Britain Feb. 3, 1933 

